An evaluation of tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot in mixes as an alternative to single-species pastures

Abstract

<jats:p>Seasonal and annual dry matter production of ryegrass was compared with drought- and grass grub-tolerant species Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as both single species and different combinations of mixes in two trials from 1982 to 1991. In trial 1, Nui ryegrass (damaged by Argentine stem weevil) produced significantly less than cocksfoot, phalaris and mixtures of the drought-tolerant grasses. Yatsyn-1 ryegrass in trial 2 was not subjected to stem weevil attack and the annual dry matter production was significantly higher than that of tall fescue and, although not significantly, higher than that of phalaris and cocksfoot. In both trials the highest producing mixture was the phalaris/ cocksfoot mix with the exception of the triple mix of phalaris/cocksfoot/tall fescue in trial 2. The phalaris/cocksfoot mix produced significantly more than phalaris as a single species and although not significant, 14% more than cocksfoot suggesting these species are complementary in a mix. The triple mix in trial 2 produced significantly more than all single species except ryegrass. Mixes of srgnificant. tall fescue/phalaris and tall fescue/cocksfoot had no advantage in DM production over single-species sowings of phalaris or cocksfoot, but improved yields over tall fescue. These results show possible complementary effects to sowing phalaris and cocksfoot. The addition of tall fescue to the mix had small and non-significant benefits. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Loliumperenne, Phalaris aquatica. grass grub, pasture mixes, pasture production, single species, summer dry spells</jats:p>

Identification of pasture mixtures that maximise dry matter yield

“…The additional contribution produced by the ryegrassplantain-red clover mixture was less important than the pairwise clover-non-clover interactions, and there were no additional yield benefits from the other mixtures with three or four species. Some other pasture mixture studies have reported that yield can increase with increasing numbers of species compared with ryegrass-white clover pasture (Johnson et al 1994;Daly et al 1996;Goh & Bruce 2005;Nobilly et al 2013;Woodward et al 2013;Cranston et al 2015). However, such studies seldom include all possible monocultures and pairwise combinations of the constituent species used in the mixtures, making the results difficult to interpret with respect to diversity effects (Connolly et al 2009;Kirwan et al 2009;Nyfeler et al 2009;Finn et al 2013).…”

Can pasture persistence be improved through the use of nonryegrass species?

“…Tall fescue (endophyte-free) had superior persistence relative to perennial ryegrass (with endophyte) in a grazed trial (Figure 1) (Johnson et al 1994;Judd et al 1990;Hainsworth et al 1991;Fraser 1994). By the fourth year, tall fescue yield was 86% of its first year Pasture production of four grass species over 4 years, relative to the yield in the first year of each species (Johnson et al 1994).…”

“…Figure 1.Pasture production of four grass species over 4 years, relative to the yield in the first year of each species(Johnson et al 1994). …”

Direct and indirect effects of resilient pastures at farm scale

“…Nor was it seen as a desired pasture species compared with perennial ryegrass. Triple mixes became the new focus to combat the seasonal challenges (Johnson et al 1994). These triple mixes of cocksfoot, tall fescue and phalaris never really took off and the resulting legacy of the negative management effects of some of the old varieties is still holding farmers back today.…”